Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-16
the part Of citizens as well as comrades.
At the tomb Of the great commander,


U. S. Grant, every department. 40
grand army was represented on me. Al
day. This department is indebted to the
South park commissioners of Chicago,
for furnishing suitable floral offering,
and Past Department Commander Burst
kindly accepted the position of repre-
sentative Of the department of Illinois
on that occasion. went to New York, and
performed the duties in most accept
able manner.
RECEPTION OF RANSOM POST.
The comrades of Ransom Post. of ST.
Louis, indicated their intention of COM
ing to Rose Hill cemetery in a body to
decorate the grave OF the hero. whose
name they had adopted. Their pious
purpose met with generous and frater>
nal response from their comrades in Chi
cago, who extended to them courteous
invitation to come as their guests and
welcomed them in manner creditable
to the great and hospitable city IN which
they were received, and which shed lus>
tire on the department Of the Grand Army
of the Republic which they represented
It was an occasion never to be forgotten
by those who took part in it, and in all
respects worthy an order whose comrade-
ship is not bounded by state lines.
NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT.
The national encampment was held in
San Francisco, and the comrades of Ill
inois made creditsble showing at the
golden gate, and contributed their full
share to that extraordinary gathering
Notwithstanding the distance, the zeal OF
the duly elected delegates and alternates
was such that they filled the entire dele
CATION, something which has not often,
| if it ever before occurred. They were
received By their comrades an3 by the
citizens west OF the Rocky mounta ms
with great enthusiasm, as it was the first,
and will probably be the last time, that
the Grand Army of the Republic would
cross the continent to that land which
had been preserved to the union BY its
heroic exertions; for it is to be remcm,
bered that had the country been divided
east of the Rocky mountains, that great
empire lying west of them would have
naturally set up an independent govern
ment. In resisting this process of dis,
Indignation east of the Mississippi the
defenders of the union stopped ii as wei
between the Atlantic aud Pacific slopes
1t was not without reason that the Crane
Army of the Republic received such
magnificent and enthusiastic welco ne on
the Pacific coast
REUNIONS
| The reunions this year have been more
numerous, more largely attended. arc
more demonstrative than ever before
At Galens. at Cairo aud at many inter
mediate places in this department thous
ands of soldiers aud citizens assembled
and reatfirmed the rights and duties o
loyalty. Whatever may be the rcasol
for this increase OF enthusiasm. its saluta
~ effect can not be doubted. 1t ha
shown how little use our free people hav
for imported anarchy. 1t has been
significant assurance to those charge
with maintaining the dignity aud homo
of the nation against foreign and domes
tic enemies, that however ms gn!fic an
the army or contemplate the navy. the
may still be bold in asserting a nation
rights, and if it be questioned, sixty mil
lions of people will furnish an army an
navy. No European monarch ever mus
tered al his autumn manoeuvres the mi
i.ary strength, either in force, power {
numbers. which has during the las; au
/ tumn been marshailed in this department
True, these soldiers, their sons an
friends were not armed, but it is al:
true that arms We're not then necessarr
THE SOLDIERS HOME.
: The largest and most notable gatherin
t of grand army veterans during the yea
was at the dedication OF the soldiers ar
sailors home at Quincy You are famili
with the action taken al former encaml
E ments to secure the establish meat OF SUI
/. a home. The movement was inaugural,
by the grand army, and the state wise
and Literally responded, and on the 10
of October this act of justice and gen
r0slty on the part of this great commo
= wealth was celebrated and the hor
+ dedicated The buildings are rapid
approaching com plstion, and so soon
, the necessary appropriations are made
: will commence It's beneficent work. T
history of Illinois has been made glorio
! in war by the aggregated valor of 228 @
soldiers; her citizens do themselves hon
, in protecting her disabled and improve
! ished veterans.
GEN. JOHN A LOGAN
Upon the platform at the dedicat O
services of the home appeared the COZ
ernor of the state and many of the nc
distinguished OF her citizens. and co
j. spicuous among them was one who
, services IN war and in peace entitled h
). to be considered as the foremost livi
American. He was q past commahder
chief of the Grand Army of the Repub
u and comrade of this department, b
by common consent he was the beau i'd
:, of the soldier in war, the citizen in pea
:. and of all that the grand army represen
His fervent patriotism, tiTeless eneIs
y knightly bearing, uuquestionable since
l. ty and lofty courage proclaimed him
s. born leader of men Midst all the TEN
tations of an age when wealth is pow
suspicion never stained his spotless nsu
The untliucbing advocate of the rights
re his comrades, the hearts of despair
he veterans turned instinctively to him.
4 comrades listened to his eloquent wor
9 at Quincy as to one they might ney
u hear again. In little more tn
two months, he. the conqueror of m
: yielded TO the corqueror of all. "Des
/ loves shining mark" The Grand Arr
of the Republic had but one John
Logan.
er GROWTH OF THE ORDER.
ID In the nature of things there Int
70 come time when the material for mus
in will be exhausted, and this organic
ton will cease to grow, but as yet it /
taken no step backward; on the contra
st there has been a greater positive gain t.
IT year than there was last, as will be sho,
;s in detail in the assistant adjutant &c
erals report. Six small posts ha
surrendered their charters during -,
year, but fifty seven new posts have be
/ organized, and at the close of the We